Though ostensibly a motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is known to affect multiple cell types in the nervous system, including cortical neurons, astrocytes and Schwann cells. However, a new study in mice indicates that oligodendrocyte development and CNS myelination are spared by the disease process. The researchers discovered that oligodendrocyte function was fully preserved in the Smn1−/−;SMN2 model of severe SMA. Further study of these cells could provide important insights into mechanisms that protect against SMA.
References
O'Meara, R. W. et al. Oligodendrocyte development and CNS myelination are unaffected in a mouse model of severe spinal muscular atrophy. Hum. Mol. Genet.http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddw385 (2017)
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Wood, H. Sparing of oligodendrocytes in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy. Nat Rev Neurol 13, 67 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.8